Refried Bean Redemption

Ingredients

• 1 pound Dry Pinto Beans (rinsed and sorted)
• 8 cups Water (for soaking and cooking)
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil (extra‑virgin preferred)
• 0.5 cup Yellow Onion (finely diced)
• 2 pieces Garlic Cloves (minced)
• 1 teaspoon Salt (kosher or sea salt)
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper (freshly ground)

Instructions

1. Rinse and Sort Beans

   Place the dry pinto beans in a colander, rinse under cold running water, and discard any debris or discolored beans.

   Time: PT5M

2. Soak Beans

   Transfer the beans to a large bowl, cover with 4 cups of water, and let soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. For a quick‑soak, bring beans and water to a boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 1 hour.

   Time: PT8H

3. Drain and Rinse Soaked Beans

   After soaking, pour the beans into a colander, discard the soaking water, and rinse thoroughly with fresh water.

   Time: PT3M

4. Cook Beans Until Tender

   Place the drained beans in a large stock pot, add 6 cups of fresh water, and bring to a gentle boil over medium‑high heat. Reduce to a simmer, partially cover, and cook for 60‑75 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beans are fork‑tender.

   Time: PT1H15M

   Temperature: Medium simmer

5. Sauté Aromatics

   While beans are simmering, heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3‑4 minutes until translucent, then add minced garlic and cook another 30 seconds.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: Medium

6. Season the Beans

   When beans are tender, stir in the sautéed onion‑garlic mixture, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes to let flavors meld.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: Low simmer

7. Cool the Beans

   Remove the pot from heat and let the beans cool in the pot for about 15 minutes, then transfer to a shallow container to cool completely (about 30 minutes) before freezing.

   Time: PT45M

8. Portion and Freeze

   Spoon the cooled beans into freezer‑safe zip‑top bags, flatten each bag for even freezing, label with date and portion size, and lay flat in the freezer.

   Time: PT5M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

200

Protein

12 g

Carbohydrates

30 g

Fat

0.5 g

Fiber

8 g